was insignificant compared to the overpow
ering odor of rotting fish and excrement.
The stink was exquisite.
The adult birds closest to us flushed from
their nests with a whoosh of beating wings.
The young chicks fell silent. I counted sev
eral hundred nests. Large patches of the
ground were whitewashed with bird drop
pings encircling each nesting tree, and
enormous pokeweed grew thickly all about.
The timing of our visit was fortunate: In
another week or two there would have been
enough older fledglings sticking their heads
over the edges of the nests to bombard us
with a shower of regurgitated, partially di
gested fish. An observer so fouled can cer
tainly appreciate the effectiveness of this
defense mechanism.
fledglings for their first hazardous attempts at flight.
547